Transfer machines



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TRANSFER MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 L. PATRIGNAKHmay '7, 196% TRANSFER MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Aug. 6, 1965 mhlI?! II lllllllllH l lll l I I I United States Patent 3,381,348 TRANSFERMACHINES Leonida Patriguani, Via Desiderio da Settiguano 23, Florence,Italy Filed Aug. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 477,695 9 Claims. (Cl. 29-33)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A transfer machine composed of severalsimilar removal work stations mounted in abutment. Each stationconsisting of a base, a rigid framework secured to the base, a work setslidably mounted on the framework and a transmission set disposedadjacent to the work set on the framework. Mounting elements to hold aworkpiece to be machined, a first endless train transmission meansrunning through the upper portion of each of the bases including rollersto move the mounting elements from one workset to another and a secondendless chain transmission means running through the lower portion ofeach of the bases for returning the mounting elements to a startingposition.

This invention relates to transfer machines.

Hitherto, transfer machines have had a certain number of disadvantages,including the fact that they are designed primarily for a single type ofworkpiece, their working life being tied to that of the manufacture ofthe said workpiece. These machines cannot be used for a series ofworkpieces of difierent dimensions, even in cases wherein thetransformation cycle is similar.

Present-day transfer machines carry out only certain operations, whileit is often necessary to carry out a multiplicity of differenttransformation techniques which are often of a heterogeneous nature andwhich cannot be carried into effect on the transfer machine withoutconsiderable difficulty, these treatments including thermal treatments,stamping, pressing, swaging, etc.

Thus, the workpiece must be conveyed, before and after the transferoperations, on to other machines and on to varying and successivemountings, in such manner that during these operations a part of theprecision is lost and the idle periods required for the preparation ofthe machines are progressively increased.

The design of transfer machines requires considerable care, it is costlyand requires the utilization of supports of considerable size, which aredifiicult to machine and which do not remain stable. The time elapsingbetween the creation of a new product and the commencement ofmanufacture thereof is therefore very long. Even for mass production,now that the evolution of a product is rapid, the transfer machine hasbecome costly.

Undertakings of medium and small-scale production, which are the mostnumerous, require 0n the other hand flexible transfer machines which caneasily be designed and which are not costly. Production has beenimproved proportionally with the evolution of technical procedures andfrequently cannot be modified because of transfer machines which are notsuitable for easy conversion.

When a new product is created, it is not possible to manufacture themembers of which it consists on the existing transfer machines. Thisresults in uncertainty, due to the fact that the prototype members aremanufactured with means which differ from those used for massproduction.

It is the object of the work unit according to the invention totransform, in an economical manner and without difficulty, any rawmaterial or rough blank to a finished and utilizable member.

According to the invention there is provided a transfer machinecomprising a plurality of standard, removable work stations which aremounted in series and each of which comprises a base on each of which issecured a rigid framework carrying a work set slidingly mounted on thelatter and controlled by a transmission set disposed at the end of theframework remote from the base, a mounting element on which is securedthe workpiece to be machined, the mounting element being caused to moveunder the various work sets by rollers carried by a first endless chaintransmission arrangement disposed in the upper portion of the bases, 2.second endless chain transmission arrangement being disposed in thelower portion of the bases for the return of the mounting elements, adevice being provided for lowering the mounting elements from the firstto the second transmission chain.

With the transfer machine of the present invention it becomes possibleto eliminate specific and different equipment for each workpiece, longidle periods lost in the preparation of machines, costly runs ofmaterial in course of machining. It permits the elimination of defectsin present-day production whereby the necessary operations are effectedby passing the raw material, or the rough blanks, through costly andlong working cycles the elementary operations of which, such as cutting,turning, milling, boring, are spread over a plurality of machine toolswhich are often placed wide apart, so that long and complicateddisplacement, stopping and returning are necessary.

The transfer machine can be adapted to any desired production assemblywhether small, medium or large, and it may be fed with workpieces ofsmall, medium or large dimensions.

It enables each user having a number of basic units rapidly to assemblea transfer machine to effect, for a given product, all the necessaryoperations, e.g., stamping, swaging, milling, knurling, drilling,planing, surface treatment, or grinding.

The transfer machine is able to impart a movement of variable rotationeither to the workpieces or to the tools, it is able to supply the powerand to provide for the displacement, positioning, rapid adjustment,within a wide range, with the object of fulfilling all the workingconditions.

It has been designed in such manner as to provide the necessaryprecision with each machining step, on circular guide elements which donot require, in the manufacture thereof, long squaring and surfacingoperations. The unit, even after years of work, will retain itsprecision in respect of sliding and positioning.

The strength of the unit can be progressively increased, as may berequired, whilst leaving the basic structures intact, due to theaddition of supplementary elements.

The invention thus has a remarkable economic advantage over and abovethe technical advantage, since it permits the reduction to a minimum ofthe period of time interposed between the commercial order and thesupply of the finished products, thus eliminating the necessity forstocks of the latter.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the followingdescription of one embodiment, given purely by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a standard removable work station;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, schematic view of the various elements formingthe rigid framework and the working set of the work station of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the central part of the standardremovable work station of FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective and in partial sec- 3 tion showing,in detail, the guide members on the support column of the framework ofFIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the upper part of a standard removablework station;

FIGURE 6 is a view partly in section of the part of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower portion of thework set;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the mechanism forcontrolling a tool;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the parts of FIG- URE 8 shown in theassembled position;

FIGURE 10 is a portion view of the lower central portion of a standardremovable work station;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a horizontally positioned work set;

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of an obliquely positioned work set;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the same work set of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a transfer machine according to theinvention, comprising a plurality of standard removable work stations;

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the members for transferringthe workpieces.

FIGURE 1 shows a base 1 comprising L-section elements which areassembled in such manner as to be adjusted in height by means ofadjusting screws 2 disposed in the lower portion of the base. On thesides of the base are interlocking sliding members 3 which permit thevertical alignment of one base with further similar bases which may bearranged in series, the bases being secured together by means of hooks4. Mounted on the base 1, is a rigid framework 5, shown in FIGURE 2 asan exploded view.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, a lower plate 6 is formed with four boresarranged in the corner in which are engaged four spacing members 7 thelower shoulders of which bear on the plate 6.

In the center of the plate 6, a spacing member 8, which is similar tobut larger than the others is engaged in a central bore in the sameplate.

The spacing members 7 and also the spacing member 8 are internallybored. Mounted on their upper portion is the plate 9 which is alsocentered and separated relatively to the lower plate 6 by means of thespacing members.

This assembly is secured in a precise and non-deformable manner by meansof lower and upper screws 10.

Engaged in the bores in the spacing members 7 (which are illustratedundersize in FIGURE 2) are two or more posts 11 which are utilized asguide members for the sliding of tubes 12.

Mounted on the tubes 12 are upper and lower arms 13 forming a rigidframework with the tubes 12 and the posts 11. The arms 13 comprise, inthe illustrated embodiment, a central bore consisting of two portionsone of which 14 is removable and has the shape of a half-collar thepurpose of which is to center, guide and lock the cylindrical ends of awork set 16 which may comprise a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumaticpress, a variable-speed rotary unit for the removal of chips, forgrinding, thermal treatment, regulation, etc.

Once the work set 16 has been mounted, the two halfcollar portions 14are locked on the arms 13 by means of screws 15. The set thus remainsperfectly aligned and assists in the rigidity of the assembly.

The posts 11 extend above the upper arms 13 and carry a ring 17 whichalso forms a guide element and an upper reinforcing member for theframework.

It will thus be clear that sliding and positioning of the work set 16can readily be achieved in industrial usage, since the assemblycomprising the tubes 12, the arms 13 and the Work set 16 can slide onthe posts 11 between the upper ring 17 and the lower framework withoutit being necessary to adjust the work set on the arms 13.

The number of posts 11 will be chosen according to the workingconditions which the work set 16 is required to withstand.

FIGURE 3 shows the framework, on the lower portion of which there ismounted a sliding plate 18 for supporting a locking member or vice !19,carrying a workpiece 20.

Secured, furthermore, on the plate 18 are centering rings 21 throughwhich, as the work unit descends, there are guide posts 22, the purposeof which is to center the workpiece with respect to the tool on the workset. The plate 18 is adapted to be displaced on slides 23. When it iscentered on the work set, the plate 18 is locked by means of pivotingarms 24 the members 25, carrying the pivots, of which are controlled bypneumatic pistons or other control arrangements.

FIGURE 4 shows, in section, the ends of the tubes 12. The said tubescarry in cooperating conical recesses, conical rings 26, the purpose ofwhich is to guide and regulate precisely the clearance between the posts11 and the tubes 12. Disposed on the outer side of the rings 26 is ascrewthreaded ring 27 bearing on the one side on a shoulder 103 of thering 26 and on the other on a shoulder formed by a resilient lockingring 28. The rotation of a ring 27 varies the diameter of the conicalring 26 which is longitudinally split or formed of resilient material,thus permitting the adjustment of play.

FIGURE 5 shows the upper ring 17 on which the posts 11 are adapted toengage. Disposed horizontally on this ring is a variable-speed mot-or 29the purpose of which is to control, with long intervals between eachoperation, the displacement of the set 16, through the intermediary oftwo electromagnet and pneumatic couplings 30 disposed On either side ofthe motor and the pivot of which extends beyond the two sides. Thecouplings 30 connect the motor 29 to the transmission members disposedin housings 31.

These transmission arrangements have variable ratios to increase thevariations in drive to the worms 32 provided by the variable-speedmotor. The worms 32 transmit their movement to helical gear wheels 33which are held against conical movement by bearings 34.

Disposed in the central portion of each of the helical wheels 33, whichsaid portion is internally screwthreaded, are threaded rods 35 thepurpose of which is to control the displacement of the frameworkcontaining the driving unit on the posts 11.

The transmission sets 33, 32, 35 are two in number, one being associatedwith each of the two main posts 11, to produce displacement movements atvarious ratios.

In order to distribute the displacement forces in a uniform manner overthe two posts 11, the two transmis sion sets may be connected 'by meansof rigid shafts, chains or belts.

A similar transmission set is disposed in the centre of the upper ring17, to effect rotation of a shaft which, extending through the hollowcentral shaft of the work set '16, causes the operation of controls,reductions and displacements independently of the movements of the ring17.

FIGURE 7 shows the lower arm 13 carrying, at relatively to the bores,shafts 36 for mounting supplementary arms, in cases wherein more thantwo posts are utilized, for connecting them to the ring 17 and makingthe assembly still more rigid.

'Mounted on the lower portion of the set formed by the arms 13, thecollars 14 and the screws 15 are guide members of dove-tail shape 37,intended for holding and guiding intermediate assembly 104 containingmechanism permitting the immediate change of production techniques.

FIGURE 8 shows dove-tail slideways 38 forming an integral part of theassembly 104. When the assemblies 104 are used, the work set includes ahollow shaft carrying a gear 39 which engages with a gear 40 forming apart of the intermediate assembly 104 and controlling the rotation ofthe tool driving mechanisms of the said assemblies and controlling therelative movement of rotation and displacement of the tools and of theworkpieces.

The dove-tail slideways 38, which are engaged and guided on thedove-tail guide members 37, bear on stops 41. which are adjusted bymeans of a micrometric screw 105, thus permitting precise positioningbetween the gears 39 and 40. The slideways 38 are locked by means of aclamping lever 42. FIGURE 9 shows the slideway in the working positionwith the gearings 39 and 40 engaged, and also the adjusting stop 41 andthe clamping lever 4-2.

In FIGURE 10 a particular intermediate assembly having a rapid-changehousing is shown in the Working position. FIGURE 10 also shows thedevice for centering the mounting plate 18 with the aid of rings 21 andposts 22, and also the locking of the plate 'by means of pivotingflanges 24. By way of example, there are also shown two posts 43 bymeans of which it is possible to achieve the precise positioning of atool on the workpiece 26.

FIGURE 11 shows a horizontal mounting of the work set 16, displaced onthe tubes 12 and on the posts 11. In this case, below the work set andon the base 1, there are disposed beams 44 on which bear the plates 9.Disposed above the beams are cradles 45 serving as guides, the cradles45 hearing on the supports 46. This mode of assembly is a variant ofthat illustrated in FIGURE 2 and can also be mounted in a horizontalmanner.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show a work set 16, inclined relatively to the plate18. The cradles 45 are mounted on inclined supports an bearing on thebeams 44. In this case, the mounting plate 18 forms an angle of lessthan 90 with the axis of the set 16 which is guided by means of posts 22in an inclined plate 106 fast secured to the plate 18. Laterally, theinclined plate 106 carries guides 47 having locking means 48 for lockingthe assembly in the direction of the axis of the unit, after thepositioning thereof.

Referring again to FIGURE 1 there are shown U- shaped guide members 49the upper surface of which forms the guide members 23 carrying themounting plates 18, and in the inner portion of the U, driving chains50. The said chains 50 carry on the side thereof laterally towards theweb of the U-section, plastic rollers 51 which are utilized for urgingand displacing the moving plates 18.

FIGURE 14 shows, by way of example, a work unit consisting of standardelements and having vertical work sets mounted in series and on the samelevel. The drive chains are guided at the ends of the transfer machineon sprockets 52 and pinions 53, and they are driven by driving sprockets54 and further guided by sprockets 55.

FIGURE shows, at the end of the transfer movement, a framework 56containing the system for lowering the machined workpieces, wherein acarriage 57 directs the members from an upper level to a lower level.The mounting plate 1 8 is urged by the rollers 51 on the chains 50 on tothe carriage 57, and then displaced downwardly at the desired speed,since it is controlled by a counterweight SS, which is connected to thecarriage 57 by means of a cable 59 passing over a pulley 60.

The arrival at the lower level and the return towards the upper levelare damped. through the agency of a friction member 61 or other dampingmeans.

Lower return chains '62 are displaced in the direction opposite to thatof the upper chains with a rapid and continuous movement, rapidly toreturn the mounting plate 18 on a lifting plate 63 disposed on aframework 64 at the head of the transfer machine by means of sprockets'65, 66, 67 raise and return the mounting plates 18 to the point fromwhich they had started.

A single operator is required for removing the machined workpiece, forcontrolling the transfer machine and for placing in position a furtherrough blank on the plate 13, so as to re commence a further workingcycle.

I claim:

1. A transfer machine, comprising a plurality of simi lar, removablework stations mounted in abutment; each station consisting of a base, arigid framework secured to the base, a work set slidatbly mounted on theframework, and a transmission set disposed adjacent to said work set onsaid framework; a plurality of mounting elements each capable of holdinga workpiece to be machined; first endless chain transmission meanstraversing the upper portion of each of said bases; rollers carried bysaid first chain means for moving said mounting elements from one workset to another; a second endless chain transmission means running,through the lower portion of each of said bases for returning themounting elements to a starting position; and means for lowering themounting elements from said first to said second endless chaintransmission means.

2. A machine according to claim 1,, wherein the rigid frameworks eachcomprise two plates separated by spacers and posts connecting the platesto an upper ring, the said posts being engaged in the spacers andconstituting guide members on which are slidingly mounted tubes securedto arms carrying a work set.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmission set issecured on the upper ring and consists of a motor which drives two wormsand cooperating pinions which rotate threadedly on screw-threadedportions of two rods secured to the arms supporting the work set.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate for theworkpiece, which slides in guide members secured to the rigid framework,comprises centering rings in which guide rods on the work set engagewhen the latter descends, the said mounting plate being adapted to belocked in the working position.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate assembly isadapted to be mounted on the work set, e.g., by means of a dove tailslide connection, said assembly including at least one pinion to which atool may be attached, said pinion being adapted to be meshed with atleast one pinion mounted on a drive shaft of the work set, the positionof the intermediate assembly being determined by a stop which isadjustable.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the device for lowering themounting elements consists of a carriage guided in a framework and underthe action of a counterweight to which it is connected by a cable.

7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one frameworkcarrying a work set is mounted horizontally on at least one base bycradles secured on supports hearing on beams cast with the said onebase.

8. A machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one frameworkcarrying a work set is mounted with the axis of the work set inclined tothe horizontal.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the bases are provided withlocking and engagement members to locate the bases securely togetherwith their upper portions situated in the same horizontal plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,402 9/1940 Rieser 29-332,028,008 1/ 1936 Peyingh aus 29-3 3 2,139,402 12/1938 Cole 29--333,215,005 11/1965 Miyakawa 77-24 2,965,009 12/1960 Schotthoefer 77-42,918,720 12/ 1959 Delamater 29--26 RICHARD H. EANES, In, PrimaryExaminer.

